The iPhone 6 with the larger, 5.5-inch screen is rumored to be called the “iPhone Air,” according to reports this week.
The report was published on China.com, and it says there will be a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and a 5.5-inch “iPhone Air,” according to BGR.
The Chinese report further claims the phones will be launched Sept. 25. A previous rumor coming out of China says the smartphone will be launched Sept. 26.
The iPhone 6 could have a feature that allows it to auto-unlock in so-called “safe areas,” according to a report. Another one says the iPhone 6 battery life could be 15 percent greater than the iPhone 5s.
The 4.7-inch iPhone 6--if that’s what it is actually called--will have a 1,800 mAh unit, while the larger, 5.5-inch “phablet” variant will have a 2,500 mAh battery, says a report from Chinese website IT168.
The increase in battery life could be attributed to increased power demands from a bigger display.
The 2,500 mAh battery would be a 60 percent increase over the iPhone 5s, according to Apple Insider in a report on Monday. According to the site, the battery life would be consistent with the battery life of similar-sized devices from Motorola and Samsung.
The Samsung Galaxy S5, for example, has a 2,800 mAh battery with a 5.1-inch screen.
Another report claims that Apple is looking into the phone’s auto-unlocking features.
Apple filed a patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office about devices that would sense a user’s location while adjusting security levels relative to those locations, according to Mashable.
For instance, if the iPhone--or another device with the technology--is located on the owner’s home WiFi network or a work WiFi network, it could bypass the PIN security code or fingerprint scan to keep it unlocked, Mashable says.
“Because some locations may be inherently more secure, such as a user’s home or office, these locations may be considered ’safe' and require less stringent security,” reads the Apple patent filing. “It can be desirable to have decreased security requirements when the mobile device is at a secure location.”
It continues that if users enter “unsecure” places, the security for the device would ramp up again.
“In these locations, it can be desirable to implement stronger security protections. When the mobile device is in an unsecure location (e.g., public location such as cafes or shopping centers), security requirements can be increased,” it adds.
Recent reports have suggested that the iPhone 6 would be launched in mid-September.
